This weekend’s Proms will not go ahead out of respect for The Queen.
The announcement came in two parts: first, yesterday evening’s Proms were cancelled, then three hours later this weekend’s concerts were cancelled.
“It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of Her Majesty The Queen, and as a mark of respect, this evening’s Prom with the Philadelphia Orchestra will not be going ahead,” read a message on the Proms’ official Twitter account on Thursday evening.
According to The Guardian, a statement had also been made at 7pm, just half an hour before the event was scheduled to start, and that guests had been arriving at the Royal Albert Hall.
“Following the very sad news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen, as a mark of respect we will not be going ahead with Prom 71 on Friday 9 September, or the Last Night of the Proms on Saturday 10 September,” read the second tweet.
It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of Her Majesty The Queen, and as a mark of respect, this evening’s Prom with the Philadelphia Orchestra will not be going ahead.
— BBC Proms (@bbcproms) September 8, 2022
It is a historic decision. After Princess Diana died, and after the 9/11 attacks, the programme was amended, but this will be the first time that the Last Night of the Proms has been cancelled since the Second World War.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra were set to perform at Prom 71 on Friday, while Saturday’s Last Night of the Proms was set to have BBC Symphony Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor Dalia Stasevska hosting and feature guest appearances from soprano Lise Davidsen and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
Tweeting last night, Stasevska said: “End of an era. Rest In Peace Your Majesty. Condolences to the Royal family. Living truly historical times with the @bbcproms. My very first Last Night of the Proms was special due to the corona, without audience. And now, we silence this weekend to pay our respects to the Queen.”
Kanneh-Mason said: “I was so sad to hear about the passing of Her Majesty the Queen yesterday. As a mark of respect, the @bbcproms Last Night of the Proms has been cancelled. My thoughts are with her family. Thank you, Queen Elizabeth II.”
The annual eight-week summer season of daily classical music shows began in 1895 and has now become a staple of London’s cultural calendar.
The Queen was a Patron of the Royal Albert Hall and last visited the Proms in 2006, when a special concert was held to celebrate her 80th birthday.
